The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
BROOKSVILLE — No need to cue those cameras right now. Brooksville stills wants some time to think over a plan to snare red-light runners.
City Council members voted Monday night to allow themselves more time to evaluate whether to install cameras at some of the city's busiest intersections. The council will consider the plan at its April 21 meeting instead of on April 7.
"I just want enough time to digest all the information we need to before we go forward," Mayor David Pugh said before casting the deciding vote in a 3-2 split to approve the measure.
Siding with council members Lara Bradburn and Richard Lewis to move the discussion forward, Pugh said he wanted more information about the need for the cameras, specifically if there were a proven danger at local intersections because of red-light runners, and if any ordinance would conflict with potential state legislation.
City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha told Pugh and council members Joe Bernardini and Frankie Burnett, who opposed the camera idea, that city staff would soon provide them with the information.
With police Chief George Turner leading the charge, Brooksville has become the latest municipality in the Tampa Bay area to push for red-light cameras. Port Richey has already installed a camera. Hillsborough County commissioners approved a similar plan March 7. And Clearwater and Temple Terrace are also considering proposals from American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz.
The city would pay nothing to have the cameras installed, according to the proposal. Instead, ATS would install and care for the cameras and make its money by taking $40 from every $125 ticket issued.
Motorists who run red lights would be photographed by the cameras twice: as the vehicle approaches the light and then crossing the intersection. The cameras also would shoot a video, which would be available for the violator to watch online. A police officer will view the video and ultimately determine if the driver broke the law. If so, the driver would be sent a ticket.
Greg Parks, regional vice president of ATS, showed the council a brief video, recorded with ATS traffic cameras, of accidents caused by red-light runners. "We've had a great track record in reducing red-light running across the country," Parks said.
But Bernardini, in particular, was unconvinced. "I'm just not in favor of it at this time," he said. "Are we using it for revenue enhancement or traffic safety? Are we really having that many accidents?"
Brooksville considered the program on the same day two organizations, the National Motorists Association and the Florida Civil Rights Association, called for a statewide ban of red-light cameras. The groups seek to put an end to the cameras following a recent study from the University of South Florida that concluded the cameras increase crashes and injuries.
"My opinion on this is Brooksville should run these people out of town," said Henry Stowe, a Florida member of the National Motorists Association. "Cameras don't prevent serious injuries."
On Tuesday, ATS spokesman Josh Weiss rebutted Stowe's claims and disputed the results of the USF study. Weiss noted the study's author, Barbara Langland-Orban, had once filed a federal suit against Tampa because of a ticket she received from the police. Langland-Orban's lawsuit was eventually dismissed and her appeal denied last month.
"The report's findings are also the exact opposite of what our clients nationally have experienced," Weiss said in an e-mail. "We place no credibility in this obviously biased study. We have more faith in the chiefs of police and traffic professionals than a disgruntled academician who clearly has some ax to grind."
Joel Anderson can be reached at joelanderson@sptimes.com or 754-6120.
[Last modified: Mar 20, 2008 09:56 AM]
Comments on this article
by Kurt
Mar 20, 2008 9:56 AM
To "by to Stan". This county has had more class in the past than it shows now because of the influx of northerners.Plus, the retail market did better then and we had plenty more money per resident than now. We also had more freedom to do as
by Kurt
Mar 20, 2008 9:55 AM
Red light cameras work, I,ve had a picture of me running a red light, mail to me notifing payment due no later than 30 days. Thank you Stan! My wife yesterday had to slam on her brakes for the 2nd day in arow due to elderly drivers from the north.
by To Stan
Mar 19, 2008 4:59 PM
Hey Stan~all them thar yankees are bringin' $$$ to the county...They are the ones who brought retail and class to this God-forsaken, backwoods, red-neck, hillbilly county!
by Tom D
Mar 19, 2008 3:37 PM
What a joke. Like a camera is not imperfect or tamper proof. Have sheriifs give summonses and that will make a difference , but they are too lazy. They want to sit at a desk and watch videos. Another money making scheme against the taxpayers .
by Stephen
Mar 19, 2008 9:55 AM
ATS rebuttal was pathetic. ATS got caught with their pants down. These devices are a SCAM. How many independent studies does it take to show that these cause more wrecks. There have been studies going back over a decade showing this! Not IIHS.
by ProCameras
Mar 19, 2008 9:55 AM
Cameras dont prevent serious injuries? Rear end collision fatalities at non-highway speeds dont compare to t-bone fatalities at any speed. USF's research specifically mentions people who react slowly to changing situations - they
by 727guy
Mar 19, 2008 9:55 AM
Bravo to Joe Bernardini for seeing this boondoggle for what it really is - yet another 'tax' on motorists of Florida.
by Stan
Mar 19, 2008 9:55 AM
WHY is this being delayed? All these yankees and old people are running red lights! Send them ticket and letter to go back to New York and run lights!
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